Awkward moment:Hear George W Bush's gaffe in Stephen Sackur's report real 56kJohn Bolton, American Enterprise Institute"It's the kind of straight talking that has been a hallmark of his campaign" real 56kNew York Times bureau chief, Mike Oreskes"Adam Clymer is an extremely experienced veteran journalist" real 28k

Tuesday, 5 September, 2000, 20:59 GMT 21:59 UK

Bush: No apology for gaffe

A whispered moment became a public affair

The Republican presidential candidate George W Bush has said he regrets the fact that people heard him make an insulting comment about a journalist, but he refused to apologise.

Adam Clymer: Disappointed in the governor's language

Just before a campaign speech in Illinois, Mr Bush said to his running mate Dick Cheney: "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."

Mr Bush later said he did not realise that live microphones were going to pick up the remark, but he stopped short of an actual apology.

A BBC correspondent says that the Texas governor appeared shaken by the gaffe, which came as he started the final phase of campaigning for November's election.

Not the first time

Asked if "calling people names" was part of the campaign, Mr Cheney said: "The governor made a private comment to me."

Mr Bush has been unhappy with several articles by Mr Clymer which were critical of his record.